Louisville - Friday Matinee
Friday, August 28, 2015

The Section One and Section Two Country Pleasure Driving World’s Champions squared off for the final round of competition in the Country Pleasure Driving World’s Championship. Susan Aschenbrenner and Amanda Simpson have been an exceptional team together. That run continued today, as CH Callaway’s Cumulus once again reigned supreme in this division. Sired by Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of a Callaway’s Full Power mare, Cumulus has to be one of if not the greatest Callaway Hills Consignment Sale purchases of all time. Back when that was an annual draw at the TSE/Tattersalls Fall Sale, Amanda and Susan selected the grand chestnut gelding, and they have never looked back. It’s been an historic run for this group of proud Iowans. Today marked the 87th round of honor in just this division for the two-time World’s Champion of Champions. The Reserve World’s Champion of Champions for the second year in a row, CH Callaway’s Halley’s Comet is also by Callaway’s Blue Norther. Out of the Sultan’s Great Day mare, Mahvalous Day, Halley’s Comet is owned by Split Decision LLC. Christine Broder made the drive once again today, directed by Hoppy Bennett. Here is another with a long history in Freedom Hall, winner of this class in 2013 and the Show Pleasure Driving World’s Champion of Champions in 2009. CH Sapphire On Ice and Sally Grieme had to be pleased with their go. They finished third for Crumpler Stables. CH Carissimo and Dr. Steve Gilman made daughter Maria proud, ending up fourth for Judd Stables.

Ava Bertagnoli moved up one spot from her qualifier to take her first Louisville victory pass as the 8-and-Under Walk-and-Trot World’s Champion of Champions. Teamed up with the grand walk-trot-turned-walk-and-trot horse, Amber Lager, Ava is instructed by Shelley Fisher. Mom and trainer Jodi Bertagnoli also stepped into the ring to call out instruction as her daughter made her beam with pride on her round of honor. Ava now has seven wins on the season, but none have been bigger than this one. A winner at Blue Ridge, Katlyn Maser made the step up from Academy this year complete with a Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title. Trained by Jamie Jankowicz, Katlyn was a winner at Blue Ridge last month. She just continues to improve, making her best ride on the biggest stage. Gracelynn Jordan was third for the proud Fiesta Farm team. Reagan Moore was up next in fourth with a good ride.

It doesn’t matter who the owner is, the combination of Rose Marie Wheeler and Nashville Cat is simply untouchable for the Majestic Oaks banner. Owned by Carter McGlothin, this son of Merrywill’s Gemini and Spirit Elegance won with Rose Marie for the 18th time in 18 trips to the show ring. This includes six victory passes on the green shavings for this duo. The unanimous winner, Rose Marie always looks the part with impeccable turnout. She no doubt has received plenty of her catch driving skills with these ponies from go-to adult catch driver and Rose Marie’s mom, Linda Fischer. They now own this Junior Exhibitor Hackney Pleasure Driving World’s Champion of Champions title for the third time, having won it in 2011 and 2012 as well. Danny Hicks held onto his spot from the qualifier, earning the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title with The Perfectionist. Owned Marj Kenney and trained by Rodney Hicks, The Perfectionist is by AG Royal Attraction and out of Kingsley Confetti. Danny now has two wins and two reserves in his four drives with this new face for the division. The Ivy League and Olivia Schumacher represented Majestic Oaks in third, while Catch Me If You Can and Kirstie Buerkley kept it going for those same green and red curtains in fourth for Charlotte Wrather.

What a sporty show Kimberly Hayes put on in the first split of Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited. Always the domain of Friday morning and something everyone looks forward to, these two-year-old walk-trots did not disappoint. The unanimous winner in this one was All Mighty Joe, a son of Joe Fabulous, who is always popular with Todd Graham’s training program. He is out of Tea And Crumpets, a daughter of Sir William Robert. He has the right combination of pretty and propulsion from that pedigree to make a very nice show horse. He gave owner and breeder Delores Blankenship a thrill today as the World’s Champion, also giving Kimberly Hayes her first Louisville victory pass. Darrell Case always has a nice one for this division. He was the Reserve World’s Champion with Nut This Nut That for Willowbank Farm. Obviously by Undulata’s Nutcracker, this is a son of Love Is Elusive, by Callaway’s Tobias. The bottom line traces back to Allusion, a daughter of the great duo of Foxfire’s Prophet and Comedienne. Little Lion Man and Melissa Moore delighted Dr. and Mrs. Louis Johnson and daughter Ivy in third. Spellbinding and Jackie Tanner finished fourth.

It was the same two training barns represented in the top two of the Adult Hackney Pleasure Driving World’s Championship as were in the kids version just one class ago. The spots were flipped, as Rodney Hicks headed up the victory pass in this one for CB Party Girl and Maureen Quackenbush. Maureen couldn’t have smiled any bigger at the lines of the daughter of The Extremist and Prim & Proper. Second in their qualifier, Maureen and Party Girl took their first Louisville victory pass together, trimmed in tricolor and flowers, setting off what will certainly be a daylong celebration of a great day for the Rodney Hicks Stables team. Linda Fischer came up one spot of pulling off the sweep with daughter Rose Marie. She drove Beautiful Lady to the Reserve World’s Championship for Sandra Surber. Trained by Majestic Oaks, Beautiful Lady is by Dun-Haven Regal Attraction and out of a Canterbury Conqueror mare. These two have been teamed up all year, peaking at the right time to add to Linda’s long resume of world titles. They were World’s Champions earlier this week in Section One of the qualifier. Bvlgari and Kay Marschel made a good drive for third for Majestic Oaks. Exotica and Mary Gise had the Hollow Haven crew going in fourth. It was an odd bit of scheduling to put these only two pony pleasure driving classes just one event apart, as it would seem there might be some crossover in the usage of carts between the two groups.

The Crim family celebrated another Louisville blue in the 9-10 Walk-and-Trot Equitation World’s Championship. Miss Molly Crim was the cute as could be winner here, earning her third victory pass here in the last two years. Molly and her teammate Bravia are directed by Lisa and Bill Waller. Winners of the 9-year-old qualifier on Monday as well, these two showed the older kids who was boss for a winning performance. Molly was also the champion at both Asheville Lions Club and Blue Ridge, taking a victory pass on the Red Mile as well. Also a winner at Lexington, Quintin Roberts was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions today for Avalon Stables. Trained by Sarah Russell and Pam Roush, Quintin once again teamed up with the sporty Cinderella Blues to great results. Reserve World’s Champion in the 10-year-old group, Quintin was even more on point today for reserve. Quintin was the 2011 9-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Classic Equitation Reserve National Champion at the Morgan Grand National, when he was just a six-year-old rider! Reagan Webb took third for the Sugar Knoll gang. Genevieve Arzberger picked up fourth with a nice ride.

Whether you want to call it a threepeat or a trifecta or whatever, CH First Class Heir pulled it off today, winning the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Driving World’s Champion of Champions title for the third straight year. Back in 2013 it was Brianna Meyer, but for the past two seasons it has been little brother Zach Meyer doing the honors. From Hollow Haven Farm, First Class Heir is by Heir Jordan and out of Slightly Dangerous, a Sultan’s Santana mare. He has been a grand horse for the Brown/Anderson Farm family, one of the great three-generation groups of horse showers that we’ve got going. Zach continues on in the World’s Championship tradition of his grandparents, Nancy and the late Bob Anderson. A 12-time World’s Champion herself, Hannah Kelley was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with Double Or Nuttin’. Her third time in a row to be a Reserve World’s Champion on the green shavings, Hannah is directed by David Rand. Double Or Nuttin’ is a big bay son of Undulata’s Nutcracker and Beat The Odds. The Victory Lane Farm entry really got cranked up on the reverse to challenge for the top spot. First Round Pick and Rose Marie Wheeler made a good drive for third for Joy Warren. CH Chantilly Castle and Zoe Schaffel took fourth for MLS Equestrian LLC.

Matthew Shiflet might just have something there in his stallion, Tango’s Parting Kiss. Obviously that is an understatement, as this was his third World’s Champion from just a few crops of foals. He didn’t even have a full crop of colts until 2012, making the oldest of those big crops three-year-olds now. He now has a Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited World’s Champion for the second year in a row. This time, it was Let’s Go Tango to be the winner, as Matthew once again made the blue ribbon ride. This one is owned by Sharon Anderson, surviving a three-way tie mandatory workout, the second such occurrence in this event in the last four years. What bad horse show luck is that for these two-year-olds to have to go a second work? The definition of empyrean is “belonging to or deriving from heaven.” The crowd thought the equine embodied version of Empyrean was heaven sent, as the gorgeous bay son of Nutcracker’s Nirvana and Isabella DaVinci was the Reserve World’s Champion with Jim Stachowski. Bred by the Stachowskis, Empyrean is now owned by Brian Ferguson. That gives the top two spots to trainers aboard horses sired by their own stallions. This one rocked way back and struck a big park trot down the rail. Fox Grape’s Forget Me Not showed all sorts of show horse attitude and heart in third for Tiffany Wheeler and Fox Grape Farms to round out the workout group.

Surviving a bit of a fractious group in the Show Pleasure Driving World’s Championship, Priscilla Marconi used all of her skill and ring smarts to be crowned the World’s Champion of Champions with Graceful Surprise. The longtime Saddlebred and Morgan exhibitor has taken a world title here the past four years, with both under saddle and harness titles to her credit. Also a World’s Champion in this division last year with Spread The Word, Priscilla drove this fine and fancy bay by Harlem’s Friendly Conversation down victory lane today. Jim and Helen Cherry joined for the round of honor as the winning training team. Graceful Surprise is out of With Grace, by Merchant Prince, no doubt delighting breeder Bit Hutcheson with some of her favorite bloodlines of all time built in deep in this pedigree. Cathy Rogers Holmes made a smart and savvy drive to be the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with CH Who. Trained by Cater Stables, Cathy has really learned how to work a ring under the guidance of Kristen and David. They can certainly put a strategic plan together, and Cathy executed the heck out of it today for the reserve tricolor. Who is by Designed and out of the grand pleasure mare, CH Kiss For Luck. This was a third Reserve World’s Championship for this team, together since 2011. Anne Marie Biron picked up her best Louisville finish in third at the lines of MBA’s Royal Shadow Phax. Gypsy Gentleman and Vernon Wise Jr. were up for fourth for Sarah Wise.

The Junior Harness Pony World’s Champion of Champions has never been beaten by his own age group. Heartland Copper Illusion was the beautiful chestnut winner of this class with Toni Nastali as the owner and driver. With the pretty, light mane and tail, Copper Illusion is by Heartland Head Of The Class and out of Heartland Dixie, a Heartland Equality daughter, hence the color. He also took the Four-Year-Old Harness Pony World’s Championship back to Majestic Oaks on Tuesday. Also from Majestic Oaks, Mississippi Queen was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with Holli Hayes. Maureen Campbell used the reserve tricolor ribbon to ear up the victory pass, as she has been doing all week when they have multiple entries in a class. Mississippi Queen is by Craycroft Matador, recently crowned the Open Hackney Pony World’s Champion with Ali DeGray. This mare is out of Seamair’s Dancer, by Dun-Haven Awesome Creation. Charlotte Wrather is the owner of the reserve winner. Heartland Sing My Song and Andy Freseth were third here for Mary Gise.

With a combined 33 years between them, the top two in the 13-and-Under Five-Gaited World’s Championship are tremendous ambassadors of the breed. They showed for a trophy named for yet another of our greatest ambassadors with a long and glorious show career, CH Sprinkles. The winner of that trophy and the title of World’s Champion of Champions was CH Callaway’s Lil Abner. A World’s Champion for the Glenn A. Werry Jr. family back in 2008, Lil Abner had been chilling out at Glenmore Farm for almost half a decade before relocating to Texas to be the teammate of Karla Moritz. Milo Jones looked plenty smart today, as his charge wore the tricolor and blanket of flowers for Sharon and Karla Moritz. Lil Abner is by CH Caramac and out of the Broodmare Hall of Famer, Town Flower. His Louisville return was a triumphant one, as the 16-year-old chestnut gelding racked up a storm. Receiving the extended ovation of a great ride, CH Sunken Treasure and Abigail Tabor were the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions from High Caliber Stables. The entry of Allen and McGee Bosworth is a 17-year-old chestnut son of The Emerald Sea and a Galahad mare. This one is a teacher of young gaited riders, with Abigail the next in a long line of young ladies who have had the opportunity to team with him. Abigail more than held her own in this group, looking like a tiny tot even in this 13-and-under age group! Rapid Reward and Marie Bellevue made some great passes in third for RAF Investment Services. Celebration and Johnny Jean Groce came fourth for Lisa Lesch.

Deborah Orr put on a clinic in a huge group to win the Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Championship with Ocean Eleven. By Ocean’s Roar, this wild-going chestnut pleasure horse is out of Baden Baden, by Rare Treasure. The entry of James Orr traces back to Lady Trigg on his bottom line, as his second dam is a full sister to What’ Jewel Whata’ Jewel, dam of the great World’s Grand Champion Boucheron. Ocean Eleven combines the motion of a walk-trot horse with the manners of a pleasure horse, putting it all together for two winning rides this week. Reserve World’s Champion of Champions for the second year in a row, Spread The Word had a complete change of tack from last year’s Friday matinee session. Last year, he was the Show Pleasure Driving Reserve World’s Champion of Champions, adding Amanda Murchison and Cater Stables to the mix this year for the under saddle division. Amanda put him in all the right spots to earn the reserve call. CH Spread The Word is by Harlem’s Friendly Conversation and out of Dream About Me, by Merchant Prince, the exact same cross of bloodlines as this year’s pleasure driving winner, Graceful Surprise. Amanda got a big pop from the crowd, not the last of which came from her superstar horse show husband, Jerry. Warrior’s Carumba took Laura Elliott to the top three for Stockings N Stripes LLC, Laura’s second great prize in two huge classes in the last 24 hours. Debra Hurst and CF A Rare Genius held tough in fourth in this great group for Team DeLovely.

Heartland Infinity achieved a tough feat, winning the Junior Hackney Pony World’s Championship for the second year in a row. Owned by Sandra Surber, Infinity is by Heartland Fire And Rain and out of Heartland Laureate, by Heartland Head Of The Class. Maureen Campbell drove the unanimous winner here today. Justa Rascal has a famous name to live up to. He and Junior Schut were Reserve World’s Champion of Champions in this one. Justa Rascal is by Dun-Haven Dapper Dann and out of a Dun-Haven Classic Edition mare.

Debbie Foley scored a unanimous win in the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Championship with a special youngster. HS I’m Hot Wired debuted to a Louisville blue today for Hagan Saddlebreds. Another by Undulata’s Nutcracker, Hot Wired is out of I Am The Dream, who inches closer to joining full sister A Daydream Believer in the Broodmare Hall of Fame. Hot Wired is a bold, balanced mover, with all of the Nutcracker flash. Sir C. Thomas represented his sire Sir William Robert and his sire’s owner and the colt’s namesake, C. Thomas Galbreath. He finished as the Reserve World’s Champion in this first split for Darrell Case and Dogwood Farm JRH LLC. Sir C. Thomas is out of a Thundergun mare with Champagne Fizz on her bottom line.

With four in the first split, seven came to show in Section Two. It was a unanimous decision here for George Knight with the huge chestnut gelding, Public Menace. Sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker, he completed the Nutcracker sweep of both splits of this class. Owned and bred by Aurora Farms, Public Menace is out of Reserve World’s Champion Intoxicating Conversation, a grand show mare herself and a half sister to some of the greats like World’s Grand Champion One For The Road and CH Jean Margaret. George is just tough to beat with a harness horse, and he maintained that status today with a Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Championship. With two good wins already this year, Rain And Thunder was the Reserve World’s Champion today with Dena Lopez driving for Jackie Tanner. This bay is by Bobese and out of Dancing Between Raindrops, a half sister to World’s Champion Rob Me Blind, making Rain And Thunder’s second dam the Broodmare Hall of Famer Bewitched Goddess. Top three in this good split went to Boy Howdy and Kathy Capsuto Walker for Paula Schmidt, while Sir Lancelot’s Legacy and Melissa Moore finished fourth for Golden Creek Farms.

This Sallie Mason Wheeler is a stone cold killer in the ring. Put her aboard or at the lines and turn her loose, and she will bring you back the prizes and the glory. She did it again today, driving off with the 13-and-Under Road Pony World’s Championship with Sirfistication. An entry of Joe and Patrice O’Brien, Sirfistication has a spring-loaded style about him. He barely seems to touch the ground as he cruises down the rail for the Majestic Oaks team. Also the winner of his qualifier, Sirfistication was twice reserve in the amateur ranks last year. The veteran of many a road pony battle, Seamair Strutter was back it again, claiming the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title with Nick Schubert. Directed by Anne Neil, these two really stepped it up for the money round. They recently swept their division at ETSA Midsummer Classic. Strutter was the Junior Road Pony World’s Champion of Champions here in 2002 with none other than Josh Greer, who serves in center ring this year on the judging panel. At 17, he is still struttin’ along. Outside The Lines and Ashley Creekmore were up for third for Thomas R. Brock Jr. Little Big Town and Austin Grace Bentley finished fourth for Byronview Farm. One of the most important prizes for the industry came in eighth, as My My Unger Singh won her first ever Louisville prize, delighting grandmother Nancy Leigh Fisher and mom Alice Unger and all of their friends.

Jannie Giles brought the top prize back to Black Horse Manor in the Junior Three-Gaited Park World’s Championship. She rode Double Dog Dare to the tricolor for Nancy Lassiter. Stepping up from the qualifier, Double Dog Dare is by Dellview Dare Time and out of a CF First Night Out mare. As a weanling, Double Dog Dare scored the big money win in the Bluegrass Weanling Futurity at Kentucky Fall Classic. He has translated that great conformation to a great show ring presence, earning the round of honor today. Qualifier winner I’m A Holiday was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions for Kenny Smith and Barbara Goodman Manilow. This mare is by Callaway’s Home For The Holidays and out of Taming Ingrid, by Glider Spirit. Look on the ASHA’s new website, and you will find that her second dam is a full sister to World’s Champions The Groomsman and Harlem’s Bluebelle, and a half sister to the great The Phoenix SM. Charming Charlie and Kent Swalla were up for third for Sugar Baker Equestrian LLC.

The Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare World’s Championship went to Goddess Of War and Gene van der Walt. This entry of EAC Equine LLC is by the Singing Hills stallion, Carl Lynn. Carl Lynn is famously bred, by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Broodmare Hall of Famer Carol Lynn, carrying forward those tremendous bloodlines. Goddess Of War is out of Phinal Heiress, by Phi Slama Jama. Phinal Heiress is out of Yorkshire’s Heiress, a mare by CH Heir To Champagne and out of another transcendent producer, Yorkshire Pudding (BHF). On pedigree alone this filly is worth a mint, and now she is a World’s Champion to boot. La Barracha Belle has been reserve in all three of her classes this year, however two of those have come with Reserve World’s Championship titles attached. T.J. Santaferra made his first show with the daughter of Wine Women And Song and Roberta Belle to claim the reserve win. Owned and bred by Kathy Capsuto Walker, La Barracha Belle is a second generation mare in Kathy’s program, as her second dam is the wonderful harness mare, CH Dancing Up A Storm LCC. Top Country Girl and Tre Lee drove to third for Golden Creek Farms.

Stonecroft Ring Leader was a World’s Champion in his first appearance in Freedom Hall and now again in his most recent one. He and Brianna Cloutier took top honors in the 13-and-Under Country Pleasure World’s Championship for Brianna and Laura Cloutier and the Judd Stables team. Sired by Supreme Heir, Ring Leader is out of Ring Girl, by Center Ring. Reserve in his qualifier, Ring Leader stepped it up for a unanimous win in this one. Brianna follows in older sister Brittany’s footsteps, as Brittany was also a World’s Champion in the juvenile country pleasure ranks. She and Extremely Fortunut won their split of 14-17 back in 2013. This delightful team has really come together at the right time, headed up by Don Judd, Maria Gilman, and Jessica Saft in victory. Owned by Tamera Froehlich, Radiant Joy delighted the R & R Stables team with Camille Talkington aboard. The Reserve World’s Champion of Champions is by Radiant Sultan and out of a Caramac mare. The 13-and-under champion at Midwest Radiant Joy moved up one spot from a top three finish in the qualifier, scoring a world title today. Camille has certainly made the most of her first season with this dark chestnut. Qualifier winners Shagadelic and Libby Bowen took a nice third here for Jack and Donna Finch. CH Highpoint’s Grandee and Thea Merlo were fourth for Lesa Merlo and Northern Tradition Farm.

“Yes!” exclaimed Allie Wellington Nunley as her number was called in the Junior Road Pony World’s Championship for the second consecutive year. Allie has had quite a bit of success with young ponies, culminating with this World’s Champion of Champions title with Game. Trained by Majestic Oaks, Game had twice been a Reserve World’s Champion. It was a great time for a first Louisville victory pass, as the All Well Farm entry scored the blanket of flowers and tricolor. Game is by Dun-Haven Truly Awesome and out of Kilbro’s Grandemeanor, herself the Four-Year-Old Road Pony World’s Champion in 2009 with Holli Hayes. Tom Lowry and the sporty Prime Time’s Choice LF were the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions for Golden Creek Farms. This was a swap of the prizes from the qualifier, where Prime Time’s Choice was the Four-Year-Old Road Pony World’s Champion. This one is by Romeo’s Prime Time LF and out of Regal’s Chloe LF. Darrel Kolkman and Heartland Midnight Magic captured the third place prize, while I’m A Classic and Randy Harper finished fourth for David Swezey.

What an unbelievably great event it was for Marc Of Charm in the Two-Year-Old Five-Gaited Stake! Three of the top six and two of the top three were sired by the celebrated stallion. This class is the domain of Darell Cruse. In the last decade, he has taken five victory passes in this class. Today, it was with Exclamation Mark! making the last pass for High Hickory Farm. Sired by Marc Of Charm, Exclamation Mark is a big chestnut gelding out of Man What A Dream. This well-bred mare is by CH Man On The Town and out of Broodmare Hall of Famer Dream A Dream, making her a half sister to the likes of A Daydream Believer. Bob Brison got a good salute for a hard ride aboard Manhattan Ice as the Reserve World’s Champion. Owned by John T. and Karen Jones, Manhattan Ice is by A Superb Manhattan and out of Undulata’s The Heiress EGF. This black colt is also exceptionally bred, as his dam is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of World’s Grand Champion An Heir About Her. Monnington Remarcable and Lionel Ferreira represented Riverdreams LLC and Marc Of Charm in third, while Cash For Keeps and Clark Clouse were fourth for Harold Denton Jr.

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